IL1b+3953 exon 5 and IL-2 -330 promoter polymorphisms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

A. Pawlik, M. Kurzawski, M. Florczak, B. Gawronska Szklarz, M. Herczynska¹

Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring; ¹Department of Rheumatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.

ABSTRACT
Objective
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory disease in which cytokines play an important role. The aim of present study was to evaluate the exon 5 +3953 IL-1b and IL-2 -330 promoter polymorphisms in patients with RA in association with disease activity and severity.

Methods
In the study 93 patients with rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology were included. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was used for analysis of the polymorphisms studied.

Results
The distribution of IL-1b and IL-2 genotypes in RA patients did not differ from control subjects. Nevertheless in patients with A2 allele of IL-1b and GG genotype of IL-2, the active form of RA was more frequently diagnosed. Moreover in these patients the measurements of disease activity (DAS 28 score, ESR, number of swollen and tender joints) were significantly increased.

Conclusion
We suggest that exon 5 +3953 IL1b and IL-2 -330 promoter polymorphisms may be a genetic risk factor for RA severity.

Key words
Rheumatoid arthritis, IL-1b, IL-2, polymorphism.

Please address correspondence to: Andrzej Pawlik, MD, Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, ul. Powst.Wlkp. 72, Poland.
E-mail: pawand@poczta.onet.pl

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23: 159-164.
© CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2005.